What’s the GOP plan for illegal immigrants?
Over the weekend, the Senate refused to pass the DREAM Act, which would have put no more than a million young illegal immigrants — potential model citizens — on the path to legal status. As I wrote recently:
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) has called the bill a “reckless proposal for mass amnesty.” It is nothing of the sort. It’s a narrowly tailored measure that would apply only to people under the age of 30, who came to the U.S. before they were 16, and who’ve lived here at least five years. The vast majority of them were brought to this country by their parents when they were too young to know anything about immigration laws.
The legislation requires them to complete two years of college or military service and to abide by other laws to be eligible for a ten-year conditional residency. Because of its requirements, immigration experts think that about 800,000 illegal immigrants would ultimately be eligible.
After ten years, DREAM Act beneficiaries could apply for permanent residency. After five years of permanent residency, they could apply for citizenship.
That series of steps — at least fifteen years before citizenship, according to DREAM Act provisions — gives the lie to the claim that beneficiaries could become immediate sponsors to their undocumented family members. They couldn’t. Besides, any family member who came here illegally has to go back to his country for ten years. That’s 15 years before an undocumented mother or father has a prayer at U.S. citizenship.
Previously, Republicans such as Orrin Hatch and John McCain were sponsors of the DREAM Act. But, deferring to their nativist constituencies, they walked away from it.
So, here’s the question: What’s the GOP plan for the 11 million or so illegal immigrants already here? Do they plan to round them all up and deport them? If so, at what cost — financially and spiritually? If we were to attempt such at thing, it would cost hundreds of billions. Are we prepared to pay that? Are we prepared to witness armed federal agents breaking down doors to drag children out of their homes?
GOP officials continue to insist that the US must “secure its border” before they will consider any sort of immigration reform. Here’s another question: What’s the definition of “secure border”? President Obama has presided over a record number of deportations, far more than were carried out under President Bush.
He has also Increased border patrol agents. According to PolitiFact,
The 2011 proposed budget, for example, includes $94 million to expand the number of Customs and Border Patrol officers — putting the country on target to reach Bush’s goal of 20,000 officers. Between 2007 and 2011, the Border Patrol budget increased from $2.3 billion to $3.6 billion. The budget for inspections at ports of entry increased from $1.8 billion in 2007 to $2.9 billion in 2011. In addition, Obama’s proposed 2011 budget calls for $1.6 billion for customs enforcement programs to identify and remove illegal aliens who commit crimes; and $137 million to expand immigration-related verification programs.
If that’s not good enough, Republicans need to let the country know, specifically, what they plan to do about illegal immigration.
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518 comments Add your comment
Road Scholar
December 21st, 2010
8:55 am
Andygrdzki: So “straight people” don’t have AIDS? Your response above indicates you have no knowledge of the real world; no surprise here! Or should we tatoo their health records on their bodies?
I have never been in the real military, let alone a foxhole. But I wouldn’t question the sex life of a fellow soldier when being shot at during a war!
BlahBlahBlah
December 21st, 2010
8:57 am
The Republicans have no plan. That has been clear from Day 1. They refuse to endorse punishment of the businesses that hire them, and they refuse to endorse a dramatic increase the number of worker visas for the primary industries they work in.
What is the Democrats plan for the other 10 million not eligible for DREAM?
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
8:58 am
Bob…You can shut the business down for a number of reasons. Drafted correctly states and cities can impose certain regulations. Georgia for example denies employers of undocumented workers the ability to deduct the wages and other costs of those workers. If the company is licensed, you could deny a professional license. As often happens, poor legislative drafting at the local and state level is the problem.
Jimmy62
December 21st, 2010
8:59 am
Are you going to be honest about your intentions/desires, Cynthia? Is the left? Back in 1986, we were told it was a one time amnesty and that we wouldn’t need to do something like that again. But here we are, on the crux of doing it all over again. So obviously your way doesn’t actually solve the problem. So what is the ultimate goal of your way? It seems to be to erode all requirements for citizenship till anyone that shows up gets full rights (and presumably becomes a lockstep Democrat voter).
kayaker 71
December 21st, 2010
9:00 am
CT fails to mention that the passage of the dream act also allows the families of those who are allowed to stay a path for legal citizenship. Not just immediate family but aunts, uncles, cousins, most anyone connected to them. It isn’t just a path to citizenship for those who are in school, it also has a profound effect on those who committed the crime in the first place…… rewarding illegal behavior just doesn’t cut it, CT. Now lets reward all the others who commit crimes in our society. Why not have a gang get together for all of those unfortunates who rob us blind, assault our women and take advantage of our system. In your manner of speaking there is no illegal behavior, CT. None whatsoever.
carlosgvv
December 21st, 2010
9:02 am
We now have over 12 million illegal immigrants in America. Before anything else is done, we need to find out who allowed this to happen. Hearings need to be held and the guilty need to be identified and punished for this obvious lack of law enforcement. Then, and only then, should we take up the Dream Act or anything else. Since so many of our trusted politicians are the guilty, the chances of any of this happening are about zero.
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
9:03 am
Grief, do tell me how children are currently suppose to “fix” their legal status other than by leaving the country.
DREAM is a start to fix the problem. These are difficult issues on immigration. This is one that is not too difficult. Give the child brought to this country as a child a chance to stay based on their good behavior.
Joel Edge
December 21st, 2010
9:03 am
The plan is thus:
1. Not give them amnesty.
2. If your parents brought you illegally, take it up with them.
3. We’re paying these ICE people already. Do the job.
See. Nice neat package.
SmittyATL
December 21st, 2010
9:04 am
Of course it’s not practical or even desirable to “round them all up and deport them.” Fences and armed patrols are necessary, but are just one small (but important) piece of the solution. The best approach is to do everything possible to eliminate the incentive for illegal immigrants to come in the first place, or to stay if they are already here. Severely fine those who hire them or provide them residence. Stop providing them with free public education and other taxpayer-provided services. Stop giving them drivers licenses. If they are convicted of crimes, deport them.
There are many, many American citizens who are suffering from a cycle of poverty. How can we help them climb out when illegals enter the country, take so many of the unskilled labor jobs, and suck up the public resources that could be used to help America’s poor?
Once we stop providing incentives for illegal immigrants, most will leave of their own accord. Meanwhile, America’s poor will benefit, with more jobs, better schools, and a healthier economy.
TGT
December 21st, 2010
9:07 am
What’s with the GOP and children?
There is nothing more dangerous for the most vulnerable of children than a liberal Democrat.
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 21st, 2010
9:07 am
questions:
What happens if while in the military the child marries another illegal and has a child is the wife/husband/child legal.
If during the 2 years of college the students grades drop during a semester or they decide to change majors (and don’t get a 2 year degree in a specific time frame) do they get deported?
Does a 1-2 year technical school program qualify for this amnesty?
What happens to the parents and siblings during this process, are they allowed to remain in the US and support the student or will the student be forced to support themselves (as many of us have done in the past).
These questions and many more need to be answered before this bill should be passed
Pennsylvanian
December 21st, 2010
9:07 am
“Give the child brought to this country as a child a chance to stay based on their good behavior.”
If that was all the DREAM act proposed, there would not be so much opposition. As in Obamacare, the devil is in the details.
Good Grief
December 21st, 2010
9:09 am
Keep Up @ 9:03 -
I’m not saying I have the answers, because I don’t. I think this is almost a reward for being here illegally, and I jsut can’t support that. I don’t see an economically viable solution for total deportation, as the logistics alone are mind-boggling. But, I’m told Congress is smarter than me, so I’m sure they can come up with something better than a partial-blanket amensty. (Quilt amnesty?)
Anyway, off to work. Have a Merry Christmas everyone. And a Happy New Year. Even you, Keep Up.
jesus on the down-low
December 21st, 2010
9:10 am
Jesus wants ya’ll to love illegals like he loves men, take them into your bosom and give them sustenance:
A youth, looking upon him (Jesus), loved him and beseeched that he might remain with him. And going out of the tomb, they went into the house of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days, Jesus instructed him and, at evening, the youth came to him wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God”.
tiredofitall
December 21st, 2010
9:11 am
GOP plan – kill them all and let god sort it out
granny godzilla
December 21st, 2010
9:12 am
KAYAKER 71
From WHitehouse.gov
Fact: The DREAM Act only applies to young people already in the United States who were brought here as children, it would not apply to anyone arriving later, so it cannot act as a “magnet” encouraging others to come. Furthermore,. DREAM Act applicants would not be able to petition for any family member until fulfilling lengthy and rigorous requirements outlined above, and even then, they would have to wait years before being able to successfully petition for parents or siblings..
DREAM Act beneficiaries would only be able to petition for entry of their parents or sibling if they have satisfied all of the requirements under the DREAM Act. Even then, they would be subject to the same annual caps waiting periods in order to petition for their relatives; the bottom line is that it would take many years before parents or siblings who previously entered the country illegally could obtain a green card.
AFTER VERIFYING THIS INFO ON YOUR OWN, Can we count on your support?
dougmo2
December 21st, 2010
9:12 am
Simple answer to the question : Enforce the damn laws on the books, equally and fairly.
Problem solved.
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
9:14 am
Grief, have a great holiday too. BTW, I doubt Congress is smarter than you or most people, they however do have the staff and time to understand these issues and the responsibilities. They are to care about this country and not play politics first. There are many many tough policy decisions. The way smart negotiators get through these is to peel off the easy issues and to then get down to real compromise and smart government and NOT to demand some sort of impossible standard of comprehensive package that includes a number of failed ideas like the “dang fence.” Once you peel away the easy issues, often there is better clarity on the issues, nuances, policies and options for the tough decisions.
quod erat demonstrandum
December 21st, 2010
9:15 am
If the plan is something like –
1) Secure the borders.
2) Register all illegal aliens – a new visa – non-resident worker – no path to citizenship, current path sufficient.
3) those that do not register after 1 year – automatic deportation – no appeals
quod erat demonstrandum
December 21st, 2010
9:16 am
granny godzilla,
It also allows access for immediate family members.
Some People are stupid
December 21st, 2010
9:17 am
Quod erat demonstrandum-
Could you please direct me to the part where it allows immediate access for family members. I’m looking at the law now and can’t seem to find it.
Also, how can a 15 yr old get a non resident work visa.
granny godzilla
December 21st, 2010
9:18 am
QED
By Access do you mean:
“they would be subject to the same annual caps waiting periods in order to petition for their relatives; the bottom line is that it would take many years before parents or siblings who previously entered the country illegally could obtain a green card. ”
IF SO AND AFTER VERIFYING THIS ON YOUR OWN, Can we count on your support?
jconservative
December 21st, 2010
9:21 am
Peadawg at 8:00 am
“What they NEED to do is to start going after those who hire illegal immigrants and starting fining the hell out of them.”
Pea, I agree in principal with this position, have have for years. But what I have found is that the people who hire illegals are a substantial portion of the donors to the Republican and Democratic parties. There is a reason Bush 43 never lifted a finger to control illegals. The employers of illegals are the big donors to the Party. A Republican president and a Republican controlled Congress are not going to alienate their donors.
I keep repeating that the last time the US did anything on illegals was the Reagan administrations “Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986″ which legalized 2.8 million illegals. I would recommend that we pull out this bill and resubmit it with the updates required after 25 years of sitting on our hands and doing nothing.
But once again the next Congress will simply “kick the can” and allow us to have this conversation again in December 2012.
Cynthia’s question – “What’s the GOP plan for illegal immigrants?” – has a one word answer – “Nothing!”.
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
9:22 am
QED — Under one version of the bill, it allows children who are APPROVED for legal status to sponsor their immediate family members for permanent citizenship (subject to their approval and own history). It also requires the child to have entered before the age of 16 and to have been in this country for 5 yrs PRIOR to passage of the DREAM act.
Bobby from Denison, TX
December 21st, 2010
9:26 am
The republicans have no plan on solving problems for working people. They only seek to protect the interest of corporations. The 9/11 responder bill has been blocked by republicans for four years because they claim it must be paid for. The real reason is that it closes loopholes that allow foreign corporations to move profits made in this country offshore without paying one cent in taxes. The Chamber of Commerce has been behind the effort to kill this bill, because many American countries have incorporated overseas and need these loopholes to avoid paying any taxes.
We all know the republicans game. It’s called the “The Two Santa Claus Theory”. Republicans spend like drunken sailors when they are in power by borrowing money to fund social services. They also give huge tax cuts to the wealthy and a small cut to the working class which keep everyone happy. These two giveaways let the republicans be Santa Claus twice. When republicans are in charge, deficits do not matter.
Of course you cannot run an economy and government this way. When it blows up and democrats are put back in charge, the republicans start shouting about the deficit which they created. They demand the democrats address the deficit to prevent any additional spending on social services. When the democrats are forced to address the deficit by raising taxes and cutting social programs, they come off as the bad guys. In 1994, the democrats raised taxes to control the deficit. Of course they were accused of raising taxes and lost control of both houses of congress. Clinton was forced to cut welfare spending. All these measures along with the tech bubble and $10/barrel oil created a booming economy. If you look closely, the script is being played out again with Obama and the democrats. They swallowed it hook line and sinker.
Fletch
December 21st, 2010
9:26 am
Why is it so difficult to pass legislation making it MANDATORY for every employer in every state to use E-verify? As a point, we have clients in 8 different states, one of which is Arizona. In AZ we have zero instances of duplicate SS numbers assigned to employees, zero instances of EEOC claims filed by hispanic employees, zero instances of fraudulent Workers Compensation claims. The same cannot be said for CA, NV or NM. The difference? AZ requires the use of E-verify.
I hate to break to you, but these “illegal” immigrants know exactly how to work the system. Even if they are found to be working under a false name, false SS number and cannot establish residency, they are still covered by ALL the protections afforded to American citizens.
I currently have 2 EEOC claims that we are fighting filed by VERIFIED illeagal aliens. In NV, I am fighting 2 EEOC claims and a WC claim filed by an employee who’s SS number was also assigned to 12 other individuals. When this was brought to the attention of the EEOC as well as the NV board of Workers Compensation, I was flatly told that there was nothing they could do.
So there really isn’t much sympathy from me in regard to the plight of the poor illegals who are only here to make a better life for themselves and their family. I have no problem with one wanting to better their situation, what I do have a problem with is someone doing it at my expense.
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
9:29 am
DREAM Act beneficiaries would only be able to petition for entry of their parents or sibling if they have satisfied all of the requirements under the DREAM Act. Even then, they would be subject to the same annual caps waiting periods in order to petition for their relatives; the bottom line is that it would take many years before parents or siblings who previously entered the country illegally could obtain a green card.
Some people…the above is from White House.
Nothing Is Free
December 21st, 2010
9:29 am
Keep Up
Do you have any life at all other than throwing your little tantrums on this blog?
It’s getting harder to make fun of you, the more pathetic you appear. And at this point, I’m just feeling sorry for you.
Guys, get a life.
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
9:34 am
Nonsense….child do you have anything intelligent to post or are you just here to whine….Frankly your opinions really dont matter. Adults are trying to converse here and your little demands for attention are just childish.
granny godzilla
December 21st, 2010
9:37 am
Keeps
Seems your new stalker woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.
Not so much as a courteous good morning….went direct to the gutter.
How rude!
Some People are stupid
December 21st, 2010
9:38 am
Keep up the good fight-
Thanks,
I was trying to find it in the bill.
Isn’t that the same language for naturalized citizens
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
9:44 am
Thanks Granny. We all have moments and the trolls on each side can be exasperating but some just consistently fail to learn how to behave.
Some People…not 100% sure but it seems to be the same requirements.
Nothing Is Free
December 21st, 2010
9:45 am
Keep Up
Remember, being called young only works as an insult if you are a little twit that worries about being too young. To real adults, those insults are compliments.
But you will learn all of this once you graduate from the 6th grade.
How’s your Mom?
Nothing Is Free
December 21st, 2010
9:46 am
Granny
Good Morning.
You always hang out with the dumbest people. Do they make you feel smarter?
Nothing Is Free
December 21st, 2010
9:48 am
You losers have a great day, whining about the Republicans.
Try not to think about the last election.
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
9:52 am
Some people…this link may help on current naturalization requirements
Dirty Dawg
December 21st, 2010
9:54 am
‘The Plan’ as you say would have been for comprehensive legislation, and yes, ever-increasing diligence at the borders, that would deal with all 11 million,or ever how many, of these folks that would provide incentives for them to self-identify and pay more into the education and health systems that they, understandably, rely on.
I mean even your guy Newt has said it’s impossible to round ‘em all up and send ‘em packing…and to just rely on making their lives so utterly miserable that they would leave on their own accord would undoubtedly result in a backlash to the ‘cruel and unusual’ punishment it would entail…then what would you have? Open warfare?
Fact is we were all immigrants at one time and we better be damn glad that those that were here before our ancestors didn’t subscribe to the ‘nativism’ that’s so prevalent now. Of course our ‘Native American’ friends wish to hell they had, and things would be a hellofalot different.
JKL2
December 21st, 2010
9:57 am
CT- What’s the definition of “secure border”?
Nobody in that’s supposed to be coming in. Maybe obama could take his “lazer-like focus” off prosecuting AZ for doing his job, and actually try to fix the problem. The reason we have a zillion illegals now is because the problem wasn’t fixed after Reagan had his bout with amnesty.
If the Demwit plan is to continually grant amnesty to anyone walking across the border, let’s just save the money now and get rid of the immagration department.
granny godzilla
December 21st, 2010
9:59 am
Oh how I wish people knew the definition of amnesty!
Jimmy62
December 21st, 2010
10:01 am
How about this…. The kids themselves did nothing illegal, they were brought here by their parents. So throw the parents in jail, then let the kids become citizens.
Laws are laws, we can’t just let people keep breaking them with no consequences, and we can’t selectively enforce laws in a free society, or no one would bother following any laws. And we should not reward the people who illegally smuggled their children in to the country. Children are supposed to be priceless, right? So these parents smuggled priceless goods in to our country. What would be the punishment for someone who smuggled in a $5 million painting?
I’d like to know what the Democrats’ solution is. Because this one bill solves nothing, all it does is give the left a feel good pat, and punt the real issue down the road. What’s to be done about the continuing tides of illegals sneaking in to our country? Since Cynthia wants to know what the GOP’ solution is, I’d like to know what hers is. Because this bill is not a long term answer, and Cynthia has yet to give us her own long term plan for illegal aliens sneaking in to our country.
jconservative
December 21st, 2010
10:02 am
“You losers have a great day, whining about the Republicans.”
Whining about the Republicans is the reason there is a Tea Party movement. The reason there is a Tea Party movement is the Tea Party whining about Republicans doubling the debt under Bush. The reason the $1.1 trillion spending bill bit the dust is the Tea Party whining to the Republican leadership about earmarks in the bill.
“Whining” is an American tradition dating back to the debate on “Independency” in 1775 and 1776.
And so it goes…………..
Compassionate, conservative Republican
December 21st, 2010
10:02 am
So, there is the answer to Cynthia’s question. Georgia will continue its history of hate and will deport everyone they can, including children. Almost all the above comments remind me of the history of Georgia, first a debtors prison, then first in deporting native Americans out of their own land, fought for slavery (supposedly states rights which it still fights for), loved segregation and now building the most prisons in the country. Make no mistake about the Legislature’s craving for tougher laws, to further encourage racial profiling, which will increase as the federal “(In)secure communities” program expands, to be updated with hand held fingerprint id machines, and the building of even more “deportation centers.” Heck, Georgia already has the largest deportation jail in the USA, now we are building more. So much for love of neighbor, especially for those who have been here a really long time, building our city, cleaning and painting our homes, picking and processing our crops, paying taxes (nobody gets out of that), trying to have a future after high school, condemned now as if they had just crossed the border last week. When the photos of children being arrested come out (or you become a foster parent for some), some pity will finally cross the minds of you who say you are Christian but have forgotten about God’s main 2 commandments: Love God and love thy neighbor (all of them).
willbrad
December 21st, 2010
10:02 am
Oh how I wish people knew the definition of illegal….
Keep up the good fight!
December 21st, 2010
10:03 am
Agreed Granny….and they ought to be required to tell us what a “secure border” means and how they plan to enforce it. We’ve done so well with the war on drugs, the war on unlawful immigrants is a failure from the start.
Mike
December 21st, 2010
10:04 am
LeeH1 has it right. Stop the demand for illegals. Why not arest the store owners and the corporation presidents for hiring known illegals. All companies should be required to do a background check for citizenship BEFORE being hired. Tell the corporate bosses, if INS finds one illegal, put the corporate boss in handcuffs and walk him or her out the door in front of his employees. I’ll bet it will stop then. Once illegals can’t find work, guess where they will go? Back home or to another country where there is work. No need to spend all that money on deportation, just some intestinal fortitude on the part of this country to stand up and take action against those that hire illegals.
markie mark
December 21st, 2010
10:06 am
CT blocked the last one, lets see if this one will pass…
REgarding all of the posters who keep talking about going after the employers…..Currently, Eric Holding and the justice department are suing the state of Nevada. Nevada has had a law on the books for 3 years the employers who hire illegals are subject to business license revocation, fines, and jail. Nevada is attempting to enforce this law, and the Justice Department sued. The case was heard by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the most liberal appellate court in the land, and the law was upheld. The Justice Department is continuing its fight, and the US Supreme Court is currently deciding whether to hear the case. This is Obama’s Justice Department, folks. This type of attitude is why conservatives feel this is about amnesty and votes, while the left accuses us of not going after the employers. This article was in the AJC 10 – 14 days ago detaiing all of this….
I for one, do not feel 2 years of military service is enough. They should do the standard 6 years, 4 of active duty, 2 of inactive, subject to recall. After that, hand them their citizenship papers, they have done enough. No waiting periods, etc. However, rewarding them for school is BS. In military service, you are sacrificing for us. Going to school, you are taking advantage of the benefits for being in this country. No way. I understand the need for citizens being educated. Get here legally first, then get educated.
That being said, I still believe in a guest worker program. You have to check in every 90 days with INS, and prove employment; dont check in, goodbye. You may be unemployed for a minimum amount of time (to be determined) but you must check in. While working in this country, you can go to school nights like I did, and you can go thru the normal process of applying for citizenship. (by the way, H1B visas shall only be issued when it is deemed the employer could not first find an American citizen of the required skill). Drivers licenses will be issued so you can drive legally, but it will be flagged to show you are not a citizen.
granny godzilla
December 21st, 2010
10:07 am
willbrad
clever, but we KNOW what illegal means, we just think the laws are stupid and are fighting to make things right.
on the other side however, some folks don’t know the definition of amnesty and just keep making themselves look stupid.
Based on that study recently released…I bet you’re a Fox News watcher.
That can be cured.
Change the channel!
markie mark
December 21st, 2010
10:09 am
as for the cost of departing illegals….at last count, it was estimated 100,000 illegals have fled Arizona. How much do you think has been saved in medical costs, school costs, jail costs, etc since 100,000 illegal aliens fled the state? Anybody seen any ads begging for labor to move to Arizona in papers or online? any news stories of a shortage of workers?
The Thin Guy
December 21st, 2010
10:11 am
Breaking News: Ms. Cynthia Tucker reveals that Ebenezer Scrooge is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat. Oh wait. That’s neither breaking nor news. Doesn’t the fact that the word “illegal” is used tell you something? If we can pick and choose which laws to obey, why do I have to pay taxes to support the current regime?
granny godzilla
December 21st, 2010
10:13 am
markie mark
the AZ law has cost AZ 140 million in lost revenue.
AFTER VERIFYING THIS FOR YOURSELF, can we count on your support?